The
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has noted with pleasure
the openness and orderliness of the just conducted governorship primary
in Ekiti State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging its members
to not only emulate the exercise but improve on the level
transparency.

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country in
a statement issued by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted
that "the time has come for Nigerians to consciously stop the current
retrogression in the country's democratic journey and see every election
as an opportunity to showcase one's leadership qualities and a means to
express interest to serve the people."

It
regretted that "the current electoral violence being experienced in
country ahead of 2019 general elections is a negation of the democratic
atmosphere the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) inherited in 2015,
which made it possible for an opposition party to win the presidential
election.

"The
country is not improving in the respect for basic democratic tenets,
rather it has regrettably retrogressed because the ruling APC has failed
to uphold by example the basic principles of democracy as a government
of the people by the people and for the people.

"It
is only when people want to serve themselves, they coerce citizens to
queue behind them through imposition rather than selling themselves or
their preferred candidates to the people who should have the ultimate
power to elect or not to elect anyone as their leader in a democracy.

"All
political parties should emulate and consistently improve on the Ekiti
State governorship primary example to avoid unnecessary loss of lives
and property because of elections.

"No
democracy accepts coercion, intimidation, cowing of opposing views as
the minority should be allowed to have their say with fears while the
majority have their way", the CNPP stated.